Battery will not start car, but it is ok!

[moggie 939]

My Renault Scenic has been no problem until recent cold/wet weather. On two occasions it would not start car and I had to start it with leads.
Local garage checked battery which is nearly new and fine they said and also so was the alternator which was charging at about '16 something'? whatever that means!!
He said it was because I am not using it enough.
As I have been hospitalised I have only been using it once a day (sometimes not at all some days) to go to the local village - a return journey of about a mile and a half and have been using my heater and wipers. Could this be the problem?
Should I go to the car and start and run it for say 10 mins if I do not plan to drive it?
Never had this problem in the past - but then I was doing about 15 miles each day.
Thanks all

[bookbinder]

Your local garage mechanic is right: you have not used your car enough to keep the battery charged. Plus, when you have used it (for only short trips) you have put a heavy demand on the electrical system by using heater and wipers. Solution: take it out for a long run (about an hour, without stops), then back again. Do that about twice a week, and it should help.

[jomifl]

Cheaper than taking the car for a run would be to invest in a trickle charger, just remember to disconnect it when you drive away from home.

[Zeuhl]

No need to waste fuel.

Buy a charger and put it on charge once in a while.

[Toureman]

He is right, your not getting enough mileage to start the engine.

It takes about 10 miles to charge the battery up to what it was before you started it.

If you run the engine for ten minutes it will not improve anything, probably make it worse !

get a trickle charger.

[Hopkirk]

You can buy solar powered chargers which constantly top up the battery, but I don't know if they are any good.

[moggie 939]

Thanks everyone - I have taken on board all your replies and think I will buy a trickle charger.